My 36th birthday was Monday January 17th...which also happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year! I celebrated by taking part in a march (I skipped too, of course) through the streets of San Francisco that celebrated his life, his vision, and the relentless pursuit of his dream.

It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday, especially since my intention for 2005 is to stay true to my dream of writing a book about the benefits of skipping through life. During the march, I overheard a woman behind me talking about Martin. She said, "They say that he had a spiritual dream....a dream that God had given him...They say he wouldn't let go of his dream no matter what."

As I listened to her, I thought about my own skipping dream that started six years ago...I remembered how it felt to be skipping on the mountaintop...Getting national media attention...Having absolute Faith that I had found my life calling and was being Divinely guided...I remembered the brazen courage I used to quit my corporate job and how convinced I was that because I was doing what I loved...and what God wanted me to do...that the money would undoubtedly follow.

Then I thought about the valley that came on the other side of that mountaintop. The rejection letters that came from publishers instead of my hoped-for large advance....Trying to stay positive as I got another"real job" which ultimately resulted in the shock of being fired...The hard, cold, financial reality and bankruptcy that ensued...and the intense doubt and fear that eventually overshadowed my hope and faith.

Luckily, that's not where the story ends...The past year has been all about picking up the pieces of my shattered dream and putting them back together...My time in the valley lasted several years...and I'm still not all the way back on top of the mountain, but the skip has returned to my step....and a sense of hope has come back to my heart. I am once again excited to see what the future will bring!

The birthday gift I received from Martin Luther King Jr.'s example was the realization that the incredible journey that I have been on...with all of its ups AND downs...is what following a dream is all about...It is one thing to skip when the national media is singing your praises...and another all together when it feels like your hopes and dreams are broken all around you. My time in the valley put my "skip through life" philosophy to the test....and I am extremely grateful tosay that I'm still here....and I'm still skipping!

I truly believe that deep in each of our hearts is a dream waiting to berealized....When I think about the time that I spent trying to skip through the darkness, I wonder how many people give up and let go of their dreams during those challenging times....and if they realize howthe tests they are going through are a normal part of the process. Myhope is that this year, 2005, will be the year that more people thanever start believing in their dreams again! That is my birthday wish forme....and for you as well!! Skip on!!!